F1 Cancels Russian Grand Prix
After Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, Formula One has cancelled the Russian Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place on September 25. Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel said Thursday that he wouldn’t race in Russia, while reigning champion Max Verstappen said a country at war should not be holding a race.
F1 put out the following statement: “We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation. On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.”
NFL Coaching Moves
- Who says you can’t go home again? Not former Chicago Bears’ head coach Matt Nagy. Nagy is heading back to Kansas City, where he was from 2013-1017, to serve as senior assistant and QB coach.
- NFL Network has reported that 49ers’ QB coach Rich Scangarello has agreed to become the offensive coordinator for the Kentucky Wildcats. San Francisco’s offensive coaching staff has seen a lot of changes this offseason.
- NFL Network also reported this week that Eric Bieniemy will be back as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for the 2022 season.
Major League Baseball, Or the Lack There-Of
There’s no crying in baseball, and at the moment, there’s not a whole lot of negotiating either.
Spring training was supposed to be well underway with games beginning on Saturday, but now Major League Baseball and its fans will be lucky if the season begins on time, which would be March 31.
After meeting for several hours on Thursday, the MLBPA made adjustments to its proposal, but the owners and the union are still at odds over the larger issues. The two sides will meet again on Friday, but if an agreement isn’t made by Monday, the league said it will start canceling regular-season games.
I was wrong before. There is crying in baseball.
Troy Aikman, Sean Payton and the NFL on FOX
The NFL combine is next week, and free agency is a few weeks way, but before we get there, there is reported movement on the broadcasting side.
Earlier this week, the New York Post reported that Troy Aikman was in negotiations to leave the NFL on FOX to become the lead analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” That would be a major loss.
But, on Friday, Front Office Sports reported that former New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton could replace him and slide in next to Joe Buck in the booth. Former Panthers’ tight end Greg Olsen is also in contention, per FOS. Stay tuned…
Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko
Mayor of the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, and former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko said that he plans to fight for his country against Russian’s invasion. “…I don’t have another choice. I have to do that. I would fight,” Klitschko told “Good Morning Britain.”
Klitschko’s brother, Wladimir (also a former heavyweight champion), enlisted in Ukraine’s reserve army earlier this month in preparation for the attack that began on Thursday. On that same day, Wladimir Klitschko wrote “…We will defend ourselves with all our might and fight for freedom and democracy,” on LinkedIn.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine.